Introduction: Nora Kassajikian, Teacher

Nora Kassajikian was born in Beirut, Lebanon and moved to the United States at the age of ten. She was trained as a classical violinist from childhood all the way through age eighteen. She studied Fashion Design for two years after graduating high school in 1991. Nora then pursued her career in Accounting for twelve years while continuing her college education to complete her B.A. in Liberal Studies. In 2009 she decided to move to San Diego to attend San Diego State University to work on her teaching credential. Today, Nora is substitute teaching in four districts and tutoring. She is currently seeking a permanent teaching position while working on her second credential.

Place III: Nora Kassajikian

Place Part III: The place that we chose to make our home speaks to who we are. The items we surround ourselves with and the manner in which we choose to arrange our living and work spaces-especially when the two overlap-can reveal insights into our everyday personas as well as the people we aspire to be. Here the place where educator Nora Kassakikian lives, creates, and sometimes even teaches...


Q: What do you love about your home?
A: I love the fact that I'm surrounded by nature. At the end of the day I feel as though I can relax and clear my head. It's the first time in my life where I've lived in an area where I can truly hear the sound of owls, frogs and crickets as well as the occasional howls of Coyotes. I can finally hear myself think instead of the chaos of the city.

Q: What are your thoughts on how traditional public classrooms are run/structured?
A: I believe that schools should have students spend more time learning outdoors. Many students do not take the time to investigate their environment. They don't take the time to question and observe. Learning by observation is a big part of life and a good life skill to acquire.
Many public classrooms are also dark. As a substitute teacher, I have walked into several classrooms where the first thing I've done is to open up all the blinds and windows. The students walk in and express that something is different but it often takes them at least half an hour to figure out that they are no longer learning in the dark.

Q: Describe your ideal classroom

A: I would love to have an outdoor classroom where students have the opportunity to learn from their environment. I believe an outdoor classroom would be ideal for me. I was able to experience teaching outdoors for Art Meets Fashion and I believe that it worked out pretty well. The students were engaged and the group had a lot of fun introducing their topic to the students.

Photographs: 2010 Melissa Au, Dandelion Dreams Photography

Place II: Cathy Breslaw

Place Part II: The place that we chose to make our home speaks to who we are. The items we surround ourselves with and the manner in which we choose to arrange our living and work spaces-especially when the two overlap-can reveal insights into our everyday personas as well as the people we aspire to be. Here the place where artist Cathy Brelaw creates...






Q: What do you love about your home?
Cathy: My home is what I call my 'sacred space'--my safe place--my studio is also adjacent so it's important to me to create a space where I can also work--as well as just be.





Q: Tell me about the sign in your space, "If not now, when?"
Cathy: "If not now, when" means this is it--life in the present moment is all we have--we are not guaranteed anything more than the moment we are in. So, all my goals, dreams, art pieces need to be created now.



Q: Describe your physical working environment:
Cathy: My working environment is a space of about 400-500 sqare feet and well lit with specialized ful spectrum lights.



Photographs: 2010 Melissa Au, Dandelion Dreams Photography